System for feeding and photographing wildlife
Apparatus for feeding and photographing birds and other wildlife includes a housing defining one or more feeding stations. A module containing a sensor to detect the presence of birds and a camera is configured so that the sensor and the camera have overlapping fields of view. Mounting structures on the housing locate the module with respect to the one or more feeding stations to position the sensor and camera so that the area surrounding one or more of the feeding stations is within the fields of view of the sensor and the camera.
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Viewing and photographing birds is a popular avocation and a vocation. Many photographers, both amateur and professional, are attracted to the science and wonders of nature and to birds in particular. Many strive to capture images of birds in flight, birds feeding and birds as close as can be in their natural environments. In particular, amateur ornithologists are well served by things that attract birds to their location, bird feeders for example. Motion and heat sensitive devices have been used to detect and photograph animals including birds.
SUMMARYThis invention provides simple and inexpensive devices to simultaneously attract and photograph birds or other wildlife. The invention also provides a system by which several feeding installations are usable with one or more removable photographic modules. Each module incorporates a motion and/or heat sensor and an imaging device operative in response to the output of the sensor. The imaging device may be a camera, a digital imaging device or the like which are collectively referred to herein by the term “camera”.
One embodiment of this invention provides a feeding and photographing apparatus which incorporates feed storage, a sensor for detecting the presence of one or more birds or other small animals such as squirrels in the vicinity of the stored food, a camera operative in response to output of the sensor to take one or more pictures, a feeding station within the field of view of the camera and the sensor, and, optionally, a dispenser for delivering stored food to the feeding station. When birds or other wildlife are attracted to the food and active in the vicinity their motion or their presence is sensed by the sensor which activates the camera to initiate photography of birds or other wildlife within the field of view of the camera. The system can, with respect to birds, photograph birds feeding at the feeding station and birds in flight nearby.
Multiple feeders, two or more, can be provided in an area to attract to the area a greater number of wildlife or a greater variety of birds. For example one feeder can store food such as seeds attractive to birds such as finches or cardinals, a second feeder can store nectar attractive to hummingbirds and a third could have food that targets squirrels. Each feeder is adapted to receive a removable photographic module that houses the motion and/or heat sensing function and the photographic function. Thus one photographic module can be shared in turn by the several feeders. Also photographic modules with different sensing and photographic characteristics can be available to alter the responsiveness and type of photography occurring at a particular feeder.
The feeder 10 of
Referring to
The function of embodiment of
The function of embodiment of
The photographic module 50 is universal to multiple embodiments and can be used interchangeably among the various feeders, such as those shown as 10, 70, 100 and 200. Correspondingly, the feeders accept various modules 50. This allows the specifications for and functionality of the camera 58 and sensor 56 vary from one module 50 to another. That is, the sensitivity of the sensor 56 and the resolution and other settings for the camera 58 may vary from one module 50 to another to adapt to different wildlife or birds, different conditions and various desired photographic outcomes. The removability of the modules 50 from the feeders enables the modules to be conveniently serviced. When a module 50 is removed from a feeder data stored on an internal memory card (not shown) may be downloaded and the power source 59 can be recharged. Any debris that accumulates on the module can be removed and the lens for camera 58 and the window for sensor 56 can be cleaned.
As further shown by
The module 50 is installed on the feeder 200 by placing the module in the cavity 208 so the sleeve 236 aligns with the post 232 and the post 232 is introduced into the sleeve 236. The module 50 is brought to rest on the base 234. The complementary shapes of the post and sleeve are such as to position the module with respect to the feeding station 221 so that the feeding station is within the fields of view of the sensor 56 and camera 58. Birds or other wildlife at the feeding station 221 will be sensed by the sensor 56 which activates the camera 58 to photograph subjects within the field of view at the feeding station. A hanger 238 provides a convenient means to mount the feeder 200 on a vertical surface such as a post or wall or suspend it from an overhead structure. The feeder is mounted in a vertical orientation so granular feed and the like will flow or travel by gravity from the storage chamber 210 to the feeding station 221.
The invention is described in connection with several preferred embodiments which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The invention is intended to include such alternatives and equivalents as are and may be defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. Apparatus for feeding and photographing wildlife comprising:
- an imaging device defining a field of view;
- a housing comprising a vertically oriented food storage and a bottom portion beneath the food storage;
- a feeding and photographing station located at the bottom portion so that food is fed by gravity from the food storage to the feeding and photographing station, the feeding and photographing station being positioned to be within the field of view of the imaging device when the imaging device is positioned to photograph subjects;
- a sensor for detecting the presence of subjects within the field of view, the imaging device being operative in response to output from the sensor for photographing subjects within the field of view;
- a unitary module adapted to contain the imaging device and the sensor so the imaging device and the sensor have overlapping fields of view; and
- complementary post and sleeve structure for removably holding and orienting the module within the housing so the imaging device and the sensor when held and oriented are directed toward the feeding and photographing station to photograph subjects within the field of view, the post and sleeve structure comprising post means and complementary sleeve means which mate for holding the module and the housing together with the module in position so that the area surrounding the feeding and photographing station is within the fields of view of the sensor and the imaging device, the post means being affixed to either the housing or the module and configured to extend either upwardly from the bottom portion of the housing or from the module and the sleeve means being fixed to the other of the module and the bottom portion.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the post means comprises a post extending vertically upward from the bottom portion and the sleeve means comprises a sleeve formed within the module and adapted to receive the post.
3. Apparatus for feeding and photographing wildlife comprising:
- a housing comprising vertically oriented food storage and a bottom portion beneath the food storage;
- means on the housing forming at least one feeding station in the bottom portion beneath the food storage so that food is fed by gravity from the food storage to the feeding station;
- a removable module containing a sensor for detecting the presence of wildlife within a field of view and an imaging device operative in response to the sensor, the sensor and imaging device being arranged so that the sensor and the imaging device have overlapping fields of view; and
- a mounting structure for positioning the module within the housing so an area surrounding at least one feeding station is within the fields of view of the sensor and the imaging device, wherein the mounting structure comprises a post element affixed to the housing and extending upwardly from the bottom portion adjacent the feeding station and a complementary sleeve formed in the module and adapted to receive the post element for holding the housing and the module together when the module is placed onto the housing so the sleeve aligns with and receives the post element and for permitting the module to be lifted off the post element to remove the module from the housing.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the housing comprises a reservoir for liquid food storage.
5. A system for feeding and photographing birds comprising:
- a module incorporating an imaging device and a sensor for detecting the presence of birds within a field of view, the imaging device and the sensor being positioned within the module so the fields of view of the sensor and the imaging device overlap wherein the module comprises a first structural element adapted to mount and position the module; and
- at least one bird feeder comprising at least one feeding station and a second structural element on the at least one bird feeder adapted to mount and position the module on the at least one bird feeder;
- wherein the first and second structural elements are complementary and mate for holding together the module and the bird feeder on which the module is mounted with the module in a position so that an area surrounding the at least one feeding station of the bird feeder on which the module is mounted is within the fields of view of the sensor and the imaging device; the first structural element comprising either a post, affixed to the module and extending therefrom, or, fixed on the module, a complementary sleeve adapted to engage the post and the second structural element comprising the other of the post, affixed to the at least one bird feeder and extending therefrom, or, fixed on the at least one bird feeder, the complementary sleeve adapted to engage the post.
6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the at least one bird feeder comprises two or more bird feeders wherein each feeder comprises a second structural element adapted to mount and position the module so the at least one feeding station is within the overlapping fields of view of the sensor and the imaging device.
7. A system according to claim 5 wherein the sleeve is formed within the module and the post extends from the at least one bird feeder for engaging the module and positioning the module relative to the at least one feeding station.
8. Apparatus for feeding and photographing birds comprising:
- a housing comprising a vertically oriented food storage means and one or more feeding stations beneath the storage means for receiving food from the storage means by gravity flow;
- a module containing a sensor for detecting the presence of birds within a field of view and a camera operative in response to output from the sensor, the sensor and the camera being configured within the module so the sensor and the camera have overlapping fields of view;
- a first structural element fixed on the housing adapted to mount the module on the housing and position the module with respect to at least one of the one or more feeding stations, the first structural element comprising either a mounting post, extending from the housing, or a complementary sleeve, formed in the housing, adapted to receive the mounting post; and
- a second structural element fixed on the module and comprising the other of the mounting post extending from the module, or the complementary sleeve, formed in the module;
- wherein the mounting post and complementary sleeve interconnect for holding together the module and the housing and for positioning the module on the housing so that the area surrounding at least one feeding station is within the fields of view of the sensor and the camera.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the post extends vertically upward from adjacent the one or more of the feeding stations beneath the storage means and the sleeve is formed within the module.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 30, 2016
Date of Patent: Dec 10, 2019
Patent Publication Number: 20170195551
Assignee: Explore Scientific, LLC (Springdale, AR)
Inventor: John Christopher Klein (Bella Vista, AR)
Primary Examiner: Joseph G Ustaris
Assistant Examiner: Jill D Sechser
Application Number: 15/365,749
International Classification: A01K 39/01 (20060101); A01K 39/012 (20060101); A01K 29/00 (20060101); H04N 7/18 (20060101); H04N 5/907 (20060101); H04N 5/77 (20060101);